Turkish prosecutors have filed an indictment seeking up to three years in prison for stand-up comedian Tuba Ulu over a joke she made about Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent during a recent performance, Turkish Minute reported, citing the pro-government Sabah daily.
The indictment, drafted by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, accuses Ulu of “inciting hatred and enmity among the public” over remarks she made in a show about the 16th-century Ottoman ruler and his relationship with his wife, Hürrem Sultan.
According to the report the indictment says there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Ulu, claiming that a sexually explicit joke about Suleiman constituted a criminal offense.
The case will be heard by an İstanbul criminal court of first instance.
The indictment follows an investigation launched after a video clip from Ulu’s performance was circulated on social media in April.
Prosecutors previously said the remarks, which included explicit language about Suleiman, had been publicly disseminated online.
Ulu was detained in early April on accusations of “insulting historical, national and moral values” and was later released under judicial supervision.
After her release, Ulu posted a statement on social media apologizing and saying her wording may have crossed a line.
The case has sparked criticism from free speech advocates and fellow performers, who say comedians should not face criminal prosecution over stage performances.
The Comedian Women’s Initiative, a collective supporting female comedians, called for Ulu’s release after her detention, saying humor is “inherently critical, free and a reflection of society.”
“Subjecting a comedian’s on-stage expressions to judicial proceedings is a blow not only to freedom of expression but also to art and the joy of life,” the group said at the time.
Suleiman the Magnificent, who ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1520 to 1566, is widely regarded as one of its most powerful rulers. His relationship with Hürrem Sultan, a former slave who became his legal wife, marked a break from Ottoman tradition and has been the subject of historical studies and popular culture.
Turkey has long faced criticism over restrictions on freedom of expression, with artists, journalists, academics and social media users frequently targeted in criminal investigations over their remarks.
International monitors continue to rank Turkey poorly on freedom of expression and media freedom. Freedom House classifies the country as ‘Not Free,’ while Reporters Without Borders ranked it 163rd out of 180 countries in its “2026 World Press Freedom Index.”
